But would Russia want a strong united Westernized Ukraine on their doorstep, or keep all of Ukraine divided and weak.

They would want it to be a Małorussia (little Russia), just another part of Russia. Most Russians, even moderates want that and the reasons are not jingoistic -- Kiev is the birthplace of the "Rus" peoples -- the 3 eastern slavic peoples look to the land of the Ukraine as their birthplace, so for Russians it is logically in their heads, part of Russia.

You and I don't agree with them, neither do most people who think of themselves as Ukrainians

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If they can't get this, then most Russian people would want a friendly Ukraine -- Russian people wouldn't mind a Western-oriented Ukraine unless it was blatantly anti-Russia. The Russian government on the other hand would see this as the revival of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth, their 1000 year enemy.

27 posted on 05/17/2012 12:38:15 AM PDT by Cronos
(**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)